ARPE, Peter Friedrich (Petrus Fridericus Arpius), Theatrum Fati, sive notitia scriptorum de Providentia, Fortuna et Fato., Typis Nicolai Bos, 1716

8vo., nineteenth-century full leather binding, in red leather with elaborate, exceptionally fine gilt ornamentation to boards, inner and outer board edges and spine, the ornamentation derived from zodiacal, mystical and Orientalist emblemata, gilt page edges, recent marbled endpapers, pp. viii, 101, [3]. Binding bumped and rubbed at extremities, heelband missing, slight abrasion and some discoloration to spine, browning to title page; otherwise a very good, tight, bright copy. V. scarce. Second edition, first also published in Rotterdam in 1712. Peter Friedrich Arpe (1682-1740) was a German lawyer, historian, legal and theological writer and connoisseur of clandestine literature, many of whose works were put on the Index of Prohibited Books. The book is a compendium of citations from ancient and contemporary literature pertaining to fate, fortune and providence. Text in Latin.